Saturday 2 April 2011

Favour Royal Arson


I have just heard this afternoon that two men have been arrested in connection with a suspected arson in County Tyrone. The fire, at Favour Royal House, in Aughnacloy, is believed to have been started deliberately.

The men were arrested on Main Street in Aughnacloy. The house, which is a listed building, was badly damaged in the blaze on Friday.

I have written an article about Favour Royal here.

Photograph of Favour Royal Manor shown by kind permission of Stephen Paskin.

9 comments :

W Duff said...

Timothy, I visited Favour Royal yesterday after the fire, I have been trying to get historic monuments to take some sort of action to rescue it, the further damage wont help but it is still worth rescueing, will try to post some pics of the damage tomorrow. The planning permission for the golf course has ran out I believe with the ownership possible now in question, I think some sort of state or community ownership should be consider before it is really too late.

Timothy Belmont said...

Many thanks for the update.

Anonymous said...

If we're going to go down the Stalinist state-onwership route, I'd far rather see the house confiscated from it's current owner (who has obviously been so neglectful as to merit such a course) and signed over to a private individual who, in consideration, will contractually agree to fully restore the house and maintain same as a private dwelling.

W.

Timothy Belmont said...

I think the Forest Service, Dept of Agriculture, has deplorably neglected the house.

Doubtless these characters would have preferred demolition, were it not for listed status.

An utter disgrace.

W Duff said...

The House has always been in Private ownership, only the land was Forestry, which thankfully saved it till now as the Forestry folk loved to bulldoze them just for fun. But the house was neglected since the 1960's at least. I think the state should only get involved as a last resort, on this occasion it is very much a last resort, private money is just not available at this time. I have posted an article and pictures on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/winny-duff/favour-royal-destruction-continues/10150231797660120

Timothy Belmont said...

Thanks for all the info - please do keep me up to date with developments!

Anonymous said...

Reading about the continued damage of Favour Royal annoys me so much. What makes it worst, is my parents actually looked in the 90s to buy it, when it was previously up for sale. It would never have fallen into such a state if we had.

Anonymous said...

The big house is currently back on the market again. Hopefully the person who buys it will restore it back to the way I remember it as a little girl.

Anonymous said...

My wife,children and close friend took a walk up and around the house today. So sad to see such a wonderful house and grounds in such neglect. Surely somebody somewhere has the money to restore this great house back to its former glory.